Gratitude In Absentia
By John Stewart, Conductor of Living School
(no AI used)
Culture is Built by a Caring Community
I am currently wagging school. The long and the short of it is my most important person in the world is turning 60, and for my entire career her birthday has played second fiddle to my end-of-year school requirements. This year, her 60th, is different. I have bolted to South America to have an early holiday in places I have never stepped foot – Santiago, Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Buenos Aires. I feel a huge guilt – and a naughty pleasure, too: this ability to leave early is only possible because I can rely on – and trust – others to take up the baton to see this term, this semester, this year through. I cannot thank the staff of Living School enough – but especially the likes of Debbie, Ben (our Chair), Arnold, Annie, Rich, Hailey, Emma, Jake, Chris, Sara, Robbo, Brendan, Gabi, Anna, Jeremy, Helen, Bree, Mish, Cloudia, Marley, Mike, Finn, and all of our truly amazing and committed teachers, drivers, maintenance and support team. Our community is diverse and exceptional.
Trusting Others...
Although I am across the other side of the planet, I know that the garden is being watered, fertilised and weeded well without me. I also think my absence may bring its own gratitude, too – as we see the growth in our community stepping up and out with excellence and confidence. Sincerely – thank you!
Our 2025 has been lively – as we reflect on the start and evaluate this year’s end. There have been incredible achievements and challenges: Cyclone Alfred, insurance, development approvals, a successful NESA registration, the birth of Horizon DE, the first year of our International Baccalaureate, our longest expedition yet, the first year of our Z Block campus, the onboarding of new Guardians of Purpose – who bring the second phase of strength to our Board. And there has been so much planned over the year for our 2026 year: a new middle school campus, strengthening of curriculum and programming, a focus on safe-care moving forward, a new Thriver program that will unify and extend our onland learning, camps and expeditions, a refinement and extension of our sports program. The energy and passion needed to initiate Living School remains and is gaining momentum – as we have grown our community with exceptional teachers, staff and families. Next year, we are bringing into our fold new teachers as we extend and strengthen our focus on being a truly progressive and diverse schooling ecosystem.
I concluded my final week of this ‘school’ year taking our current Year 9 and 10 students to Sydney on a one-week expedition into ‘urban orientation’. The students and I (with Robbo, Karina and Alan) explored Sydney in a different way: we camped at Putty Beach, caught a train from Woy Woy, and bussed back. Students were given freedom based on responsibility – and rose to the challenge. I can attest – we have the best students. Everywhere we went, members of the public came up to us and praised our students. Numerous times, fellow campers (imagine seeing a busload of 33 teenagers roll up to your ‘peaceful’ place) remarked that these were the ‘best’ students they had camped beside. This reflects not just the moment – but the many moments: the numerous camps, our values, our teachers’ commitment, and our parents – you parent well!
We all share in our success. As Alan (a principal himself) stated – you have great kids; you have a great community; Living School has a great culture. It is often said that a school’s culture takes seven years to develop. Culture is not born from ease – it grows via excursions, systems, camps, whole-school productions, music, athletics, sports, art, science, IB, academics, HalveIt, Arnhem Land, competitions, celebrations, middle market, showcases, service, teaching and learning – and your trust in us – Thank you!
Snapshots of our urban orientation expedition
"What can be done, and how can it be done, to bring the school into closer relation with the home and neighbourhood life, instead of having the school a place where the child comes solely to learn certain lessons?"